Azerbaijan is actively exploring various opportunities for cooperation and investment services with Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s leading asset management companies.
Report informs that close relations have been established with Franklin Templeton and regular discussions are being held. Cooperation prospects and new opportunities were discussed with the company’s CEO Jenny Johnson during a meeting in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, the delegation led by Johnson visited the country to participate in COP29 events held in Baku on November 12-15 last year. During the visit, the delegation held several meetings with the leadership of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and discussed areas of cooperation.
Today, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Jenny Johnson. At the meeting, it was emphasized that initial steps were taken to establish a long-term partnership between Franklin Templeton and SOFAZ (State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan) based on mutual benefit, and opportunities for deepening strategic cooperation were explored.
As of September 2024, the total assets under management of Franklin Templeton, founded in 1947 in New York, amount to $1.68 trillion. Franklin Templeton comprises several business entities specializing in the management of stocks, bonds, alternative investments, and other asset types.
Sixty percent of the company’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, while the remaining 40% belongs to the founding Johnson family. The Johnson family’s total wealth is $10.5 billion (Forbes, August 2, 2024).
Jenny Johnson, who is currently the president and CEO of Franklin Templeton, has played a significant role in transforming the company into one of the global investment leaders during her 35-year career. Before being appointed to this position in February 2020, Johnson held various leadership positions in the company. As the granddaughter of Franklin Templeton’s founder Rupert Johnson, she is the fourth leader from the Johnson family since 1947.
Jenny Johnson was included in the Forbes list of World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022 and 2023 and the 50 Over 50 list in 2022. She has been featured for five consecutive years in Barron’s prestigious 100 Most Powerful Women in US Finance list.
